Self-threading, self-cleaning tension device



July 28, .1953

F. R. BORGES, JR 2,646,941 SELF-THREADING, SELF-CLEANING TENSION DEVICE Filed sept. 14, i950 2l g4v 52 49 l f *f5 J/ N` J4 V/',` f 111 49 4 J f J2e. a 34 a so 4s al 2 42 :gg/,237x Il 4/ a2- ll u .fz

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JNVENToR. FRANK l?. BORGE,./R.

JLM/fw Patented July 28, l1953 SELF-THREADING, SELF-CLEANIN G TENSION DEVICE Frank R. Borges, Jr., Fall River, Mass., assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application September 14, 1950, Serial No. 184,793

Claims. (Cl. 242-147) The present invention relates to strand tension devices and creel structure. The lacing of creels or other equipment for continuously supplying a multiplicity of yarn ends involves considerable time, labor, and inconvenience particularly, if the equipment comprises individual tension devices through which the several yarn ends must pass. The space within such machines through which an operator has access to the various portions of the creel is limited by such factors as the large number of packages supported within the machine and the closeness of the spacing between the separate paths of the yarn ends. Threading is a particularly tedious procedure in creels wherein a balloon-terminating guide is supported above each package station in combination with a tension device such as a disc tension mechanism. In order to eliminate re-packaging operations in the rayon producing industry7 it is becoming common practice to beam warp yarn directly from yarn packages such as the rayon cakes which are centrifugally collected in spinning buckets as the yarn passes from the lament forming equipment. However, because of the greater likelihood of the yarn being tangled in cakes, yarn breakage is more frequent when unwinding cakes than when unwinding packages of rewound yarn. Beaming cakes therefore entails greater annoyance to the operator and loss of operating time on account of the shut downs for relacing the creel.

lit is an object of the invention to facilitate the lacing of tension devices. It is also an object to provide a tension device which is selfcleaning with respect to the lint, finishing materia-1s used on the yarn, or other matter that may collect on the surfaces of a tension device traversed by a strand. It is also an object to provide an improved creel and to save time and labor in the operation thereof. Other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the invention and the drawing relating thereto in which Fig. 1 is a view partly in section of a tension device in accordance with the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation view of a portion of a creel.

The present invention comprises a self-cleaning, self-threading tension device; and an improved creel system comprising one of the devices mounted therein adjacent each packagesupporting stationy and a conduit system for conducting a fluid medium to the tension devices, the conduit system comprising at least a portion ofthe framework. The tension devices each have a body portion which is chambered so as to receive and discharge the iiuid medium, and in doing so, to produce suction at the strand-receiving portion of each device.

Fig. 1 illustrates a self-threading and selfcleaning tensioning Idevice 5 which comprises a body member 6 having a generally hour-glassshaped pasasgeway defined by annular surfaces "I, 1a, and 1b. The device may be supported in operation with the axis of this passageway disposed in a vertical or horizontal direction or at any inclination thereto. The surface 'I defines the constricted portion I8 of the passageway. rA tapered thread-engaging element 8 rests within the upper portion of the hour-glass-shaped passageway on the peripheral surface la thereof, and a generally frusto-conical element 9 is secured within a lower enlarged portion of the passageway. The element 9 is so contoured that an annular chamber Il) extends between a considerable portion of the outer surface of the element 9 and the surface 'Ib of the lower enlarged portion of the passageway. A tube I2 extends from a lateral direction into the side of the body member 6 which is preferably constructed with a boss I 4 extending laterally from the body member and provided with a threaded recess to receive the end-portion of the tube I2 in threaded relationship. A passageway I5 connects the bore of the tube I2 with chamber I0. A gas, supplied under pressure to the chamber through the tube I2, is discharged through an annular opening I6 between the smaller end of the element 9 and the surface lb. The rapid discharge of air or other gas from the opening I6 into the pasageway IS will lift the thread-engaging element 8 away from the surface 'la and induce a strong current of air or other iiuid medium surrounding the device 5 to pass through a passageway 20 of the element 9 in a direction toward the element 8. During the passage of air between the surface 'la and the element 8, the element is prevented from being completely dislodged from the vicinity of the upper surface of the member 6 by a spring arm 2l which ts within the bore 22 of a tubular extension 23 of the element 8. The spring is secured to a collar 25 mounted on the tube I2; the spring resiliently limits the movement of the element 8 away from the surface la but only to a position from which the element may readily settle back toward the surface to engage either or both the surface and a thread passing through the device 5 when the passage of air into the device is discontinued. Springs of heavier or lighter construction may be substituted also for limiting the movement of the element from the surface la. The spring 2l is provided with a curved portion on which to support apertured weights or ballast elements 24 which may be transferred to or removed from a seating surface of the element l2. The number and size of these weights may be varied as desired tov vary the pressure of engagement of the element 8 with a strand 29 passing through the device to produce any degree of tension de-r sired in the strand. An arrangement shown for limiting the movement of the elementv 8. with respect to the body portion 6 is merely illustrative of many other arrangements, possible. For ex-A ample, a spring or other resilient means used. to. limit the movement of the yarn engaging element 8 may be adjusted to exert pressure on an ele ment analogous to the element 8, and adjustment of the spring may be made to vary the pressure of the element on the yarn passing through the device in lieu of the aggregate of weights placed onto or secured to the element.

When threading the device, air or other gas is supplied through thetube i2 at s ucient pressure to, lift the element from the surface la; at presyarnV or thread-end held in the vicinity of the entrance of the passageway 20 is promptly drawn into and passedthrough the device. In ordinary operation, materials such as lint, dried material carried, by the finish solution, or dust tend to collect on the surfaces defining the path of the thread through the device. These materials are readily removed by passing air through the device supplied thereto at a pressure preferably greater than pounds per square inch. The passageway Ee may be cleaned by manually holding the element S in engagement Within the seat therefor or the body portion 6 so as to cause air to discharge through the passageway 20. The cleaning action with respect to the surface la and-the adjacent surface element 8; may be effectively promoted by-manually working the element B-and intermittently pressing it closely to the surface to restrictv the passage of air.

Fig.V 2 illustrates the tension device of the invention and a fragmentary section of a creel frame onvwhichit is mounted. As shownin this figure, the tube IZeXtends-into a valve` 3l whichv is connected withha hollowI post 32A ofthe creelf bya nipple 33 andu aV pipe bushing Bil. Further support of the device 5 may optionally comprise a. bracket 35 attached to an overhanging frame memberill. AY pull rod 3l having a bent end 38 extending through anl aperture in thev endportion of a control lever 39 is slidably supported on the device 5 by anapertured extension il thereof. A spring 4.2 attached. to the bent end SS' andY an oye-ntting. 43 secured to the post 32V holds the valveinthe closedposition. 'I'o pass air through thedevice as when. threading or cleaning it, itis merely necessary to pull the handle portion 45 of the rod l3'. inthe direction of the arrow to actuate the valve 3l to theV open position. When the rod 311 is releasedthe valve returns to the shut posi;- tion.

Fig. 2 is anelevationview of a creel section as'V seen when looking in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the creel. It may comprise many such sections progressively spaced in a direction normal to the plane of the figure. While only two package supporting levels A and B are shown, the creel may readily comprise additional levels of package holders. The creel section comprises the post 3;2 and tension devices 5 supported as shown and hereinbefore described, frame members 48 corresponding to each package supporting level, and guide means such as an eye- 'eel'- Gli or a Selfiesof eye-bars spaced progressively in a direction normal to the plane of the gure towardthe strand-discharging end of the creel.

The eyef-bars, each extend transversely of the general direction of movement of the strands from the various tension devices toward one end or the creel. The frame members 48 although noteompletely shown, are centrally supported on the post 32. Turn-table members 58 pivot with respect to each of the opposite end portions 5| ofl each frame member 8'. The turn-table members each support a pair of packagen holders 52. Pivot means is provided at both endsof the turn'- table members comprising an arrangement such as shown wherein a pivot pin 54 extends through the bifurcated end ofthe turn table member and through an axiall extension 55 of the package support'. The members 55 are provided with stop surfaces whereby the package supports may be tilted to one or the other of two positions. At level B the package support 52a is shown in solid lines in the position to which the other package holders may be tilted to receive another cake tol `be unwound after the unwinding of the cake previously supported thereon has been completed.

The' other package holders are' positioned in the norma-l alignmentV for unwinding in which the axis of the package holder is inclinedl upwardly andl inwardly toward the pivot axis of the turntable member into alignment with the thread'- receiving. passageway 20- of the device In the other posi-tionA asillustrated by` the package holder 52u, a package holderistilted outwardwitl'r itsaxis inclined upwardlyand outwardly awayfrom the pivot axis of the member 56- to provide more convenient loading of a package ther-conto. Air or other gasstored Linder pressure is piped to the device 5' from the hollow post 32 connected with an air reservoir (not shown) by a tube 56.

In the creelshown, as in conventional creels, yarnV passing from the packages being unwound passesthrough one or more eye-bars spaced along a common level until they pass through ater-v minal eye-bar (not shown) in the end-portion of the creelv nearest, for example, a beamer. The yarns may bepassed through a circuit-inter-ru'pt'-A ing device (not shown) mountedr adjacent the terminall eye bar for controlling equipment-such as av beamer.. through thez tension device of a creel, guide devices forsupporting thei yarnr during its horlzontal movement to the.endportion of the Creel-,-

such as eye-bars, are' easily laced; In conventional:- creels having. a balloon-'terminating guideterminating` guideV and thus simplifies the, creolV structure.

While a preferred embodiment, of. the inven]n IOnce the yarn has been passed'y 5. tion has been shown and described, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tension device for a running strand comprising a body section having a central passage which has a constricted intermediate portion and flaring end-portions, an annular tapered friction element for loosely engaging the surface defining one of the end-portions of the passage, resilient means for restraining the movement of the tapered element away from said surface, an annular member having a central bore and extending Within the other end-portion of the passage, said member having a rim portion in continuous engagement with an annular surface at the end of the passage, the exterior surface of the member which extends within the passage having clearance with but not engaging the surface which denes the passage, duct means for connecting the chamber resulting from said clearance with a fluid-storage means.

2. A tension device for a running strand comprising a body section having a central annular passage which has a constricted portion, an element having an annular tapered surface adapting it to be loosely supported and to seat within one end of the passage, an annular member having a rim portion in continuous engagement and attachment to an end-surface of the body section adjacent the other end-portion of the passage and having a tapered sleeve portion extending within the last-named end-portion of the passage at substantial clearance with the surface which defines the passage, said clearance defining an annular cavity which joins with the passage adjacent the constricted portion thereof, a tube for supporting the body section attached thereto and extending from a direction which is lateral with respect to the longitudinal direction of the passage, a passage connecting the interior of the tube with the cavity, said element having a hollow stem extending coaxially with respect to the tapered surface in a direction opposite to that in which the tapered surface faces, a plurality of weights each having an aperture which permits extension therethrough of the stem, and means extending loosely within the hollow stem when the element rests within the cooperating end-portion of the passage for limiting the movement of the element away from the body section.

3. A creel system comprising a hollow frame, a frame member for supporting a wound strand package with the end-surface thereof facing.r away from the member, a tension device supported in superimposed spaced relationship with the end corresponding to the end-surface Of a package of the region occupied by the package while supported by the member, said device comprising an injector having a passage for strand terminating in an annular strand-discharging surface and having a chamber surrounding the passage for receiving a fiuid, said chamber merging with the passage for discharging the uid into the passage in a direction away from the strand-receiving portion of the passage at an oblique angle with the longitudinal direction of the passage, and an element having an annular surface which rests against said strand-discharging surface, means for limiting the movement of the element away from the strand-discharging surface, a duct connecting the frame and the injector for communicating a iiuid from a space within the frame to the chamber of the injector, and a valve in the duct for controlling the movement of iiuid therethrough.

4. A creel system comprising a plurality of members for supporting wound strand packages, each member supporting a package with an endsurface thereof facing away from the member supporting it, a tension device supported in superimposed spaced relationship with the end corresponding to said end-surface of a region occupied by the package while supported by the member, said device comprising an injector having a passage for strand terminating in an annular strand-discharging surface and having a concentric chamber for receiving a fluid and discharging it into the passage at an oblique angle in a direction extending away from a strandreceiving portion of the passage, and an element having an annular surface which rests against said strand-discharging surface, said element being normally urged toward the injector, means for limiting the movement of the element away from the strand-discharging surface, a duct connecting the frame and the injector for supporting the tension device and for supplying a fluid to the chamber of the injector; and a valve in the duct for controlling the movement of fluid therethrough.

5. A creel system comprising a plurality of members for supporting wound annular strand packages with each package facing away from the member which supports it in a predetermined alignment of the package axis, a tension device spaced from each member in a direction approximately coinciding with said axis to receive strand withdrawn from the package, said device comprising an injector having a central passage through which thread may pass through the device and terminating in an annular tapered strand-discharging surface, an annular passage encircling the central passage for receiving a fluid and discharging it into the central passage toward said strand-discharging surface, and an element having an annular seating surface resting within and against the tapered surface, a hollow uid-conducting frame for supporting the members and the tension devices, a duct extending between the frame and the injector for supplying a uid to the outer passage, and a valve in the duct for controlling the movement of fluid therethrough.

6. Ay creel system comprising a plurality ofmembers for supporting wound annular strand packages in a predetermined axial alignment for each package extending in a direction away from the member supporting the package, a strand tension device spaced along said alignment beyond the region occupied by the package, said device comprising an injector-type body rportion having a central passage for strand transmission which terminates in an annularly tapered strand-discharging surface, and an element having an annular surface of which at least a portion thereof is complementary to a portion of the tapered surface, said element resting against the tapered surface for frictionally engaging a strand when passed through the device, 'a support frame for the system comprising hollow Huid-conducting members, duct means connecting the body portion and a hollow frame member, and means for supplying uid under pressure to the frame members.

7. A creel system comprising a plurality of members for supporting wound annular strand packages, said members each having a seating surface for supporting a package with its axis aligned along. an unwinding axis, a tension device spaced from each member to receive strand withdrawnv fromthe package through a balloon generally centered about the axis, said device having a central passage for a Astrand and the surrounding iiuid medium, said passage terminating in an vannular strand-discharging sur-A face, a passage concentric with the central pas- Sage for receiving a uid and for discharging it into the central passage toward said stranddischarging surface, and an element having an annular surface for engaging said annular strand-discharging surface, said element being resiliently urged toward the injector, a support frame for the system comprisinghollow iiuidconducting members, a hollow fluid-conducting element extending from a fluid-conducting member for supporting each tension device and for communicating fluid thereto, valves in the duid-conducting `elements for controlling the movement of fluid therethrough.

8. A creel system comprising a plurality of members for supporting wound annular strand packages, said members each havingwmeans for approximately aligning its axis along a `predetermined unwinding axis, a tension device spaced from each member along the axis and beyon-d the region occupied by apackage when supported by the member to receive strand withdrawn from the package, said device having a central passage of suicient size for the passage -of strand and a small stream of air, said passage termihating in an annular rounded 4strand-discharging surface 'over which' strand may be discharged l from the device in a direction .lateral withv respect to the longitudinal direction of the central passage, Aan :annular passage concentric to the 'central passage for receiving a Afluid and discharging it .into the central passage toward said vstrand-disclrarging surface, and an element having an annular .'surface, means for resiliently limiting movement of the element to movement in a direction corresponding generally to the longitudinal -direction of the central passage and for limiting theextent of such movement awai7 from the :strand-discharging surface, a hollow Enid-conducting frame for supporting the members and the devices, separate -duct'means .for 'connecting the vframe and the annular passage of each device, a valve in the duct means .to each device, and means for supplying air under pressure to the frame.

9. lA tension device for a running strand comprising 'a body portion having a passage extending therethrough for the transmission of the strand, the strand-discharging end-section vof the .passage being enlarged and being defined by a tapering surface extending inwardly of the `body to a smaller diameter, a friction element 4adapted to seat within and engage said tapering surface, a support 7for the body portion, and an elongate member extending from the support into adjacent relationship with the friction elem'ent for llimiting the movement of the element away from the taper-ing surface;

.10. `A tension device for a running `strand-com- .prising -a body portion hav-ing Aa passage extend- Qing therethrough for the transmission Aof the strand, the strand-discharging end-section of the passage being enlarged and being defined by a circular tapering surface extending inwardly of the body to a smaller diameter, an annular tapei-ing friction element adapted to seat within and engage said tapering surface, a support for the body portion extending therefrom in a direction lateral with respect to the passage, and an elongate member extending from the support into adjacent relationship with the friction element to limit its movement away from the tapering surface, said device having the region adjacent the element and the portion of the member adjacent thereto free of obstruction for deiiection of said portion of the member to facilitate removal of the element.

11. A tension device as dened in claim l0 wherein the elongate member comprises a spring having a portion extending into loosely-engaging axially overlapping relationship with a portion of the element.

12. A tension device as defined in claim 11 wherein the element has an axially-extending bore and the free end-portion of the spring extends at least partly into the bore.

13. A tension device for a running strand comprising a body portion having a passage extending thcrethrough for the transmission of the strand, the strand-discharging end-section of the passage being enlarged and being defined by a tapering surface extending inwardly of the body to a smaller diameter, a friction element adapted to seat within and engage the tapering surface, a hollow support for the body portion, and an elongate member extending from the support into adjacent relationship with the .friction element for limiting the movement of the element away from the tapering surface, the body portion having a chamber connected with the passage of the hollow support, the chamber extending obliquely toward the passage of the body portion and joining therewith to direct gas supplied to the chamber toward said enlarged section of the passage.

14. A tension device as defined in claim 13 wherein all sections of the first-named passage are substantialy circular in cross section, the chamber being annular and substantially concentric with respect to said passage.

15. A tension device as dened in claim 14 wherein the element has an axially-extending bore extending inwardly from .a surface thereof facing away from said seating surface of the body portion, and the elongate member comprises a spring extending from the support into the bore.

FRANK R. BORGES, J R.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,946,822 Madden Dec. 10, 1912 1,915,451 Schur June 27, 1933 2,447,982 Koster Aug. 24, 1948 2,483,160 4'Suggs Sept. 27, 1949 FOREGN PATENTS Number Country Date 18,075 Great Britain Aug. 5, 1909 

